44 Descriptive notice of the District of Jhilum. [Jan. 



marked distinctions. But to give a better idea of the country, it is 

 proposed to enter into a short account of each subdivision. 



We shall begin with Rothas, which from its importance as the 

 centre of a large tract of country, and as the key to the passage to the 

 south, has been for many a century a place of note. The district of 

 Rothas was subdivided formerly into 14 tracts. 1 Simli now Pudri 

 and Jhangar, 2 Dhurala, 3 Barbukala now included in Dhurala, 4 

 Haveli now in Rajiv, 5 Rajiv, 6 Iskanderala, 7 Toliala, 8 Soliala 

 now Pukhowal, 9 Terozala now Jhilum, 10 Akberpur Solima now 

 in Kala, 11 Shakirpur now in Kala, 12 Eesiala now Sungoi, 13 

 Shalijchuni now Khurd Chautala, and 14 Pulliala on the opposite 

 side of the Jhilum. This arrangement did not include what are called 

 the Mundis, viz. Lehri, Sultanpur, Bhet and Dumeli, which have 

 been for ages ruled by chiefs of the Gukkur caste. Under the Sikhs 

 the denominations of the various divisions were altered, and each seems 

 to have taken its name from the village, in which stood the principal 

 fort. The town of Rothas is about 9 miles from Jhilum, the river 

 Kuhan being crossed 3 or 4 times on the road. The town is inside the 

 fort a vast structure, half a mile in length, and one quarter in breadth. 

 It was built by Sher Shah Lodi, who for a brief period expelled 

 Humayoon and ruled the Moghul empire. Several works of utility 

 bearing his name are found in the Punjab, as for instance, the wells 

 with covered steps in the road from Khushabs to the Indus. The 

 fort was built 320 years ago, and has stood out time bravely. It covers 

 the face of the high rock, near which passes the road from Bukrala. 

 The gates are the Sohal, the Khwaskhani, Lungarkhani, Moti, 

 Gutiali, Parpulwali, Tulaki, Cabuli, and inside, the Shah Chand- 

 wala. Of these the Sohal is a handsome structure, 60 ft. high, built of 

 sandstone with a fine spacious apartment above. The Lungarkhani 

 and Khwaskhani gates, which are the most accessible have witnessed 

 many a desperate combat. The district of Rothas was at the time of 

 its conquests by the Sikhs in the possession of the Gukkurs, from the 

 chief of whom, Noor Khan, it was wrested by Ranjit Singh, and 

 bestowed by the old lion on Mohar Singh Lamba, one of his oldest 

 comrades in Jageer. He was succeeded by Gurmukh Singh now a 

 white bearded old man, and the most ancient Sirdar probably in the 

 Panjab. Subsequently it was leased to Golab Singh, Misr Jussa Mull, 



